Messages

41

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: New people welcome !! Come in here and introduce your self!

« on: August 02, 2012, 07:42:04 PM »

Keep in mind that I am also new at this........But Mach 3 uses a G code set by other programs, possibly such as Enroute 4.  Again I am using BobCad/BobArt.  This being very new to me they have a lot of support and can assist in your learning curve.  I am sure there are many other programs that Mach will support.

Check with the person you are getting the programs from to see if he is using Mach or knows if it will or not.

Also I have received a lot of support here on the Mach site. I am surprised that mine was the only reply....More will come.

If you are interested in BobCad/BobArt a little advise when talking to them..........When they quote you a price don't nod your head too quick.  They will come back with some great offers below retail.  Don't tell that I said so.

I, being new, am amazed with myself in what I have learned in a rather short time, I do not have any background in art or CNC work.  I also started with a router and I am going to fire up a plasma cutter tomorrow. The Mach was the easy part, the art/design was so new and seemed complicated.  My first project was a table that I routed a bear into.  The stock art I had was a Grizzly Bear and I am from Black Bear country.  I was able to make several changes to the art to change the body lines and trust me I am NO artist.

If you are going to create something original an art program is a must have.   What are you planning on making?

42

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: New people welcome !! Come in here and introduce your self!

« on: August 02, 2012, 11:38:16 AM »

Todd....maybe you will get a better answer than this, I am rather new also. If you have a design available, either saved to your computer, on a thumb drive or how ever you can get it..........You do not say what program you are using to make your own G codes.......I am using BobCad and I would click on load image and open my own, make any needed changes and make my own g code.

His files are made with an art program like BobCad/BobArt and you can try to open them with Mach but I suspect you will need the art program to open it.

Check with the guy that made it to see what art program he writes the g code with. It will be easier on both of you if you are operating the same software.

Good luck.
Bob

43

General Mach Discussion / Re: Cut parts are wonrg size

« on: July 22, 2012, 08:06:11 PM »

Fenix....I am also new and learning.  When I first started, using a router, my parts were also sized different than programmed. I had not set up the steps of the motors.  I am using BobCad and Mach 3.

I used a tape measure, set the move to be 20" and measured the actual move. I then entered the actual move and the program calibrated the adjustment.  I had to do this with the X,Y and Z axis.

Good luck.

44

General Mach Discussion / Re: Inconsistent cut

« on: June 10, 2012, 12:11:52 PM »

I will look.  You have been a great help.

Thanks. Bob

45

General Mach Discussion / Re: Inconsistent cut

« on: June 10, 2012, 10:48:16 AM »

I found my problem.......I just cut the design again and it did something totally different. The 2nd time it was perfect.
My problem was the wire connectors. If I grab the wires, at the connector and wiggle it the motor will chatter.  I zip tied the wire so there is no change of stress on it as it moves and it runs perfect.  I found my A motor does the same.

I am going to hard wire all motors to eliminate the potential problem.

Now back to your suggestion.....I am not sure how to set the retract.

46

General Mach Discussion / Re: Inconsistent cut

« on: June 10, 2012, 07:38:43 AM »

Thanks. I have the Z at 4".  The material is uneven but where it cut thin was the high side with a belly in the middle.  Using plywood for my testing. The belly part was where it cut the deepest on the 2nd cut.  I will try again today and post the results.

Quick question: In the future so my Z zero does not drag again, couldn't I set my z zero at 1/4" above the material and add a 1/4" to the plunge?

47

General Mach Discussion / Inconsistent cut

« on: June 09, 2012, 07:25:40 PM »

I am new but learning.  I made a sign with just text "Chet's Shop".

The first time I ran it it came out perfect.  

The 2nd time I did not get a full Z plunge on Chet and on the apostrophe and the s the Z did not drop at all. I stopped it here. 

The 3rd time I ran it the Z on Chet was the same - thin, the apostrophe did not drop the Z but it did on the s and the s and shop received a full z drop. (not thin like on Chet) Also on this run, hop in shop did not pick up the Z to the zero. The router bit scraped on the X axis on the hop but not the S.

Anybody know of a reason I would get 3 different cuts on one G Code?

48

General Mach Discussion / Re: Blank screen

« on: June 09, 2012, 07:05:49 PM »

Hey Hood, Thanks a lot, worked like a charm.

You will probably see a lot of me in the forum.....I am new and at the bottom of the learning curve.  But I am climbing.

49

General Mach Discussion / Blank screen

« on: June 09, 2012, 05:38:33 PM »

When opening Mach 3 on my laptop I have lost the screen of the Mach window. Now it only shows a blank screen with the Tool Bar at the top.

It used to work, now it does not.  It does work properly on my work computer.  Any help out there on how to get it back?

50

General Mach Discussion / Re: Super sized

« on: June 09, 2012, 05:32:55 PM »

I went to the Mach manual, looked up motor tuning and went through the steps for motor tuning.

It worked great.  The Mach 3 program basically did it automatically.

I could not have gotten to this point without you all and the forum.